Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Prep Football

TULAROSA — Tularosa High School has always been known for having an elite football program.

This season, under first-year head coach Richard Grace, the Wildcats look to get back to that level of being known as a state powerhouse.

Grace replaces Bryan Jones after seven seasons. Grace is a 1985 Tularosa High grad. He served as an assistant coach at Oñate for the last four years under former head coach Caleb Hull and current coach Brent Jaquess. Previously, Grace spent 16 years in the Gadsden Independent School District at Gadsden High and Santa Teresa.

Twenty-two players were out at practice Tuesday morning. With small numbers, Grace's philosophy of next man up has caught on among the few and proud players who have shown up.

"I'm pretty excited day two," Grace said. "We've taken big steps from day one to day two. Most of these guys have been coming all summer, so they've been doing all this stuff all summer long. It's pretty awesome that they're positive. They could be down right now because their friends are not coming out. Some of the guys that played last year have decided not to come out and play with them.

"Our philosophy is next man up and that's just how we have to treat it. Because I didn't have those kids last year, I don't know what I'm losing. So, it's just the next man up, step in and the kids have already taken hold of that."

Last season the Wildcats struggled with injuries as they finished 1-9 overall and 1-2 in District 3-3A play. Their lone win came over Mesilla Valley Christian on Oct. 23. Tularosa graduated eight seniors.

Sheppard saw action in two games last year as he recorded 73 passing yards while completing 8-of-15 passes. He also amassed 96 total yards. Padilla caught two passes for 13 yards in four games played.

Cojo, an offensive and defensive lineman, is expected to have a big season. Ebner, another lineman, has made a good impression early on.

"I think we're gonna see Dominic Ebner, he's our center plus our middle linebacker," Grace said. "Kid has worked amazing all summer long. He's the only kid that didn't miss any during the summer. That's amazing. Kyle Sprague, he stepped in as running back for us because we lost our tailback and he's also playing linebacker. We have guys going both ways.

"A couple of freshman are gonna have to step up and play for us and right now they're doing a pretty decent job. On the offensive line we have a big returner, Cody Cojo. Being at Oñate, Gadsden and playing against some of those guys — he's probably one of the best big-men that I've seen in a long time."

Tularosa made 10 consecutive state playoff appearances from 2005 to 2015. Despite going 10-22 the last three years, the Wildcats have made two state playoff appearances. In 2015, Tularosa landed in the 3A quarterfinal round before falling to top-seeded Lordsburg.

Another key player who has not shown up to official practices yet is senior Joe Perez, who tallied 245 receiving yards on 16 receptions last season.

"Speeds gonna be definitely our strength," Grace said. "Cameron is just tearing it up and our receivers have gotten a lot better. When I first got here, the first time we stepped onto the field in the off-season, those guys couldn't catch colds and now coach (Bill) Turner's been working with them all summer long and those guys are being able to catch the ball really well.

"We're missing right now Joe Perez. He's a good returner from last year and even without him our kids have been able to step up and do a good job."

District outlook

The Wildcats are competing in the newly revamped District 4-3A with some familiar foes in Dexter, Eunice, Loving and Capitan.

Eunice has made three straight playoff appearances since 2013. Last year they went 8-4 overall and 3-0 in league play. Since 2004, Tularosa and Eunice have met 12 times. The Wildcats lead the series, 7-5.

Dexter wrapped up the 2015 season with a 7-4 overall record. The Demons are looking to make their fifth consecutive trip to the state playoffs since 2012. Dexter leads the all-time series with Tularosa, 8-5. The Wildcats last defeated Dexter in September 2012.

Loving has not made the state playoffs since 2011. Last year they finished 3-7 overall and 0-3 in league play. Loving has not played Tularosa since Sept. 28, 2012.

Capitan recorded their first winning season in Class 3A last year after going 7-5 overall and landing in the quarterfinal round. Capitan defeated Tularosa 24-20 last season for the first time since Sept. 22, 2006.

Mesilla Valley Christian dropped down to Class 2A and will participate in eight-man football alongside Cloudcroft and Mescalero Apache in District 3. Lordsburg also dropped down to Class 2A, however they'll remain in the 11-man ranks in District 2-2A with Jal and Hagerman.

"The mind-set is always to go out there and work hard and play Wildcat football — fun, fast, disciplined," Sheppard said. "It don't matter the numbers, we're all going to work hard no matter what. I'm excited for it. I'm excited to be a leader for these newer kids. We have a lot of young kids out here and I'm excited to be a leader for them.

"No matter where I play, I'm gonna do the best I can do and help us win football games. That's our number one goal is to get back to those playoffs, give ourselves a fighting chance. Once your in the playoffs anything could happen. We just hope to get there."

Bob Cerny renovations: Construction has been setback at Bob Cerny Stadium by two weeks, according to Grace. The renovation project is part of a $2.5 million bond election that includes repairing the track surface, a new scoreboard and new goal posts. If renovations are not completed in time, Tularosa could move to another venue for week one.

2016 schedule

Aug. 19 at Anthony (Texas) High School at 6 p.m. (Scrimmage)

Aug. 26 vs. Hot Springs.

Sept. 2 at Socorro.

Sept. 9 vs. Lordsburg.

Sept. 16 vs. McCurdy. (Homecoming)

Sept. 23 at Ruidoso.

Sept. 30 at Hagerman.

Oct. 7 at Capitan*.

Oct. 14 vs. Eunice*.

Oct. 21 at Dexter*.

Oct. 28 is a bye week.

Nov. 4 vs. Loving*.

(All games are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. All home games are in bold. *denotes district game.)